A senior Venezuelan official has claimed that 40 people, including both civilians and military personnel, were killed during a U.S. attack, according to reports from the New York Times. The official, who requested anonymity, stated that the strikes occurred early on Saturday morning and targeted multiple locations.
U.S. authorities, however, have neither confirmed nor denied the reported casualties. Speaking to Fox News, U.S. President Donald Trump stated that no American soldiers were killed during the operation, though he acknowledged that several U.S. military personnel were injured.
During a press briefing, Chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Dan Caine, detailed that U.S. helicopters were deployed to extract Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife. One helicopter was reportedly targeted during the mission but remained airworthy, and all U.S. aircraft returned safely.
The operation comes a day after U.S. forces conducted coordinated strikes across Venezuela, including the capital, to apprehend President Maduro and his wife and transfer them to New York.
Russian media reports claimed that the U.S. attacks targeted Venezuelan defense headquarters, prompting President Maduro to vacate the presidential palace. These developments have intensified international concern over sovereignty, regional stability, and the legality of unilateral military operations.
The incident marks a significant escalation in U.S.-Venezuela tensions, with conflicting reports on casualties highlighting the fog of war and the challenge of verifying information amid ongoing military operations. Observers expect continued scrutiny from the international community and media as the situation unfolds.
